Iowa County is adjacent to the west side of Dane County.  It became a territorial county in 1829 and is named after the Iowa Indians whose hunting grounds dominated the area.  Its county seat is Dodgeville.  It is in the driftless region of the state, which means it remained untouched by glaciers, leaving the land in its natural state with wooded hillsides, rock outcroppings, fields and prairies.

  Iowa County Government- the official site for government information in Iowa County.  This site has information about county services, including property assessments and parcel maps (see Planning and Development). 
  Explore Iowa County-  a site with listings of businesses and attractions in Iowa County.
  Iowa County Historical Society- Incorporated in 1976 to preserve the history of Iowa County and its residents.   Their museum includes archives of local newspapers, artifacts and scrap books from Iowa County past, historical photos, and much more.  It is located in Dodgeville.



Iowa County Community Information:

  BARNEVELD-  A small village of over 1100 people, incorporated in 1906, Barneveld is the first town in Iowa County along HWY 18/151, 4 miles west of Blue Mounds and about 27 miles from Madison.  Because it is just across the Dane County border, housing prices begin to drop here, but Madison is still an easy commute.  The Village of Barneveld website includes information on local businesses, parks, schools, the library, and Village government.   For Nature lovers, Blue Mound State Park is nearby, as is the Barneveld Prairie.  Just south of Barneveld is Botham Vineyards, home to fine wine and vintage cars.  Just west of the Village is Deer Valley Golf Course & Lodge, with one of southern Wisconsin's most beautiful and challenging courses.  Barneveld is in the Township of Brigham, a beautiful wooded area with rolling hills that is popular for country homes.

  RIDGEWAY - Ridgeway is a small village of over 1000 people, about 3 miles west of Barneveld and 30 miles from Madison along HWY 18/151.  It is 8 miles east of Dodgeville.  This is a community with lower real estate prices that is still within a 30 minute commute to Madison.  Ridgeway is known for its ghost sightings and its Labor Day Festival.  It is located along the Military Ridge Bike Trail, which travels from Madison through Barneveld and Ridgeway, ending in Dodgeville.  It was once the only road going through the area, which later became the railroad and has now been converted to a bike and walking path.  Ridgeway has the only railroad depot still in existence along the trail.  It has been restored and will be converted to a museum.

  DODGEVILLE-  Dodgeville is the Iowa County seat.  It is located along HWY 18/151, about 40 miles west of Madison.  With a popluation of over 4200, it is home to five internationally recognized companies, and remains diverse in industry and agriculture.  Its historic downtown specialty shops make for a pleasurable shopping experience.  Just outside of town is Governor Dodge State Park, a great recreation area that has 5200 beautiful acres of woods, hills, and fields, with hiking, camping, and biking, two lakes for boating and swimming, and a soothing waterfall hidden in a rocky glen.   Dodgeville is home to the Iowa County Historical Society.  The Dodgeville Area Chamber of Commerce website includes resources for those thinking of moving to or visiting the area, including information on schools, downtown and area businesses, local mining history, attractions, and more.  Click for information on the Dodgeville Public Library.  See also the The Uplands website, which lists more attractions for the Dodgeville area, such as the Dodgeville Museum of Minerals and Crystals.

  BLANCHARDVILLE-  is a small farming community located on the Pecatonica River in far southeast Iowa and northeast LaFayette Counties.  It is 18 miles southwest of Mt. Horeb along rural, two lane HWY 78.  It is one of the inexpensive housing areas that can be found just outside of Dane County.  The village site has information on local businesses, accommodations, events (including the annual music and arts festival), and local organizations such as the Blanchardville Bullets baseball team, the Film Society, and the Historical Society.  Nearby Yellowstone Lake State Park offers boating, swimming, hiking, and camping.

  MINERAL POINT-  A quaint and historic town with hilly and windy streets and a slower, more inspired pace of life.  Once the home of lead mining, it now supports a thriving arts community.   Nearly 20 artists own and operate studios in the downtown district.  They host Gallery Nights four times a year, when they showcase new work for sale.  Mineral Point is also part of the Fall Art Tour during which many artists in southcentral Wisconsin open their studios for tours.  Or, you can experience hands on artistic workshops yourself year round at the Shake Rag Center for the Arts, which is housed in 8 historic buildings on 2 1/2 acres.  There is also a thriving sense of history in Mineral Point.  With over 500 contributing locations, it was the first Wisconsin city to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  When lead was discovered in the area in the early 1800s, it attracted Cornish miners from England, who brought with them their distinctive stone building traditions.  Their limestone and standstone buildings have been preserved at Pendarvis State Historic Site, where costumed interpreters bring to life a rough and tumble mining camp.  Mineral Point is also famous for pasties and figgyhobbin, traditional Cornish dishes.  Find more fascinating information at the official Mineral Point website.

  ARENA-  A small village 29 miles northwest of Madison along HWY 14, and 7 miles west of Mazomanie in Dane County.  Arena is close to the many recreational opportunities found on the Wisconsin River.  You can rent canoes at Traders Bar and Grill, which also offers overnight canoe trips.  Arena is home to Heck's Market Place, which offers farm fresh produce, the largest selection of lawn ornaments in southern Wisconsin, over 100,000 flowers and bedding plants in Spring, 10,000 pumpkins in the Fall, and a weekend flea market and craft sale during the Summers.  If you want to try some fresh, squeaky Wisconsin cheese curds, visit Arena Cheese, where you can watch artisans making cheese and purchase the results.  See the Iowa County Business Directory for details (select "Arena" under City and hit the "Explore" button).

Iowa County Attractions:

  American Players Theatre-  A classical theatre performing plays by Shakespeare and others in an outdoor amphitheatre set in 110 acres of woods and meadows near the Wisconsin River.  Enjoy a picnic before you take in a play.   Located on HWY 23 between Dodgeville and Spring Green.

  The House on the Rock-  an architectural marvel perched on a 60 foot chimney of rock, it includes rooms with amazing views and an overwhelming assortment of collections.  On HWY 23 between Dodgeville and Spring Green.

  Wright at Taliesin-  America's premier architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, considered the Spring Green area his home.  Wright built Taliesin in the early 1900s and it was his principle residence for the remainder of his life.  He later founded a school of architecture there, known as the Taliesin Fellowship.  Taliesin is located on HWY 23 between Dodgeville and Spring Green and is open for tours and other activities.

  Spring Green Area -  Spring Green is just across the northeast Iowa County border in Sauk County, making its many attractions easily available to eastern Iowa County residents.

 Wisconsin River-  The magnificent Wisconsin River runs along the northern border of Iowa County.  From its last dam at Sauk Prairie, west to the Missippi River, it free flows at a leisurely pace for over 92 uninterrupted miles, making it great for canoeing, fishing, swimming, and relaxing.  See the Spring Green Area website for a listing of Wisconsin Riverway Attractions under "Recreation," including parks and canoe rental information.  Tower Hill State Park is located along HWY 23 near Spring Green, with panoramic views, camping, fishing and canoeing along the River.  See Wisconsin State Parks for details (under "Find a Park").

 Governor Dodge State Park is located just outside of Dodgeville.  It is a great recreation area with 5200 beautiful acres of woods, hills, and fields, with hiking, camping, and biking, two lakes for boating and swimming, and a soothing waterfall hidden in a rocky glen. 

  Folklore Village-  Located just off of HWY 18/151 a few miles east of Dodgeville, Folklore Village sponsors events that create opportunities to celebrate and experience ethnic and traditional folklife, including music, dancing, and crafts. 

  Military Ridge Bike Trail-  Part of the Nation's Rails to Trails program that transforms unused railroads into biking, walking, and recreation trails.  The Military Ridge Trail begins in Madison and travels through southwest Dane County into Iowa County through Barneveld, Ridgeway, and Dodgeville.  The trail covers 40 miles and is a great resource for exercise, enjoying the fresh air, and getting into the country.

  Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area-  This Heritage Area is a 50,000+ acre grassland landscape in southwest Dane County and Iowa County.  It contains more than 60 prairie remnants that provide habitat for rare and declining grassland birds, representing one of the highest concentrations of native grasslands in the Midwest.   The Nature Conservancy and other agencies are working to preserve these areas.  To see a living bit of natural history, you can visit the Thomson Memorial Prairie in the driftless area (the only region of the state untouched by glaciers) in Dane County, or the Barneveld Prairie in Iowa County.


Properties Available in Iowa County:

For information on current property listings in Barneveld, Ridgeway, Dodgeville, Blanchardville, Mineral Point, and other parts of Eastern Iowa County, you can fill out my Property Finder form or email me a request and I will send you a personalized list of available homes that match your criteria.   You can also search the MLS yourself for available property listings.